Permanent Elastomeric Radar Array Cover

In this project Akita Innovations will design and test materials for a permanent, removable/repairable, and elastomeric protective cover for AN/SPY-1 radar arrays.Ā The cover will use an elastomer and reinforcing material that are highly transparent to RF in the 2 - 4 GHz frequency range.Ā The cover will be fabricated by a method that does not require an oven and is compatible with making large (14' or larger) items, and it will be flexible so that it can be rolled up for transportation and storage.Ā The cover will be installed by stretching it over the radar array, and the seal at the edges will be provided by both friction (the cover will have a well-defined lip to secure itself over the array) and a bead of applied adhesive/sealant that will only be present around the edges of the array.Ā The cover will be designed to be water-repellent (intrinsically so and with the option of a hydrophobic coating to boost water repellence) and resistant to cuts, punctures, and tears from impact of hail or objects.Ā It will also use materials chosen for minimal water absorption since water attenuates RF energy, and to effectively seal out seawater from penetrating onto or into the radar array.Ā One object of the Phase I work will be to determine how thick the cover can be made to provide maximum mechanical protection without losing too much RF transparency.Ā A second object of the Phase I work will be to evaluate several candidate materials for the elastomer and the reinforcing material to see which provide the best RF properties in the frequency range of interest and the best mechanical properties and easiest fabrication (though RF properties will be the most important).Ā A third object of the Phase I work will be to trial fabrication methods for the covers at small scale, and to produce small (about 2' square) samples adequate for the RF and mechanical testing.Ā We will also perform computer modelling of the RF properties of candidate materials in Phase I to guide materials selection.Ā In the Phase I option we will continue to refine the models of RF behavior and advance the planning for materials selection and will plan Phase II work and put in place any additional necessary clearances necessary for Phase II work.Ā The result of the Phase I effort will be modelling and experimental data that will facilitate the production of prototype covers in Phase II that can be used to advance the TRL and MRL of the system.